Difference between revisions of "Ahura Mazda"
(Created page with '(Zend) . Ancient Zoroastrianism named the Creator God, emanated from Zeruan Akerna (“Boundless Time”), Mazda (i.e., Omniscient, All-Wise). To this Zarathustra Spit€ma (also…') |
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| − | (Zend) | + | (Zend). Ancient Zoroastrianism named the Creator God, emanated from ''Zeruan Akerna'' (“Boundless Time”), Mazda (i.e., Omniscient, All-Wise). To this Zarathustra Spitāma (also known as Zoroaster; c. 660-583 BCE) added the title Ahura (“Governor”). In other words, Ahura Mazda is the wise and beneficent creator and sustainer of the universe. This title is sometimes given in reverse, i.e., Mazda Ahura, and is known as Ormazd or Ormuzd in Persian. In the ''Hormazd Tasht'', his name, among twenty other titles, is merely Ahu (“I am”). From Ahura Mazda a series of dualities emanated, the first being ''Spenta Mainyu'' (expansive or good thought) and ''Angra Mainyu'' (constrictive or bad thought). It is interesting to note that the beneficent beings in Zoroastrianism have a parallel with malevolent beings in Vedic Sanskrit. For example, ''Ahura'' is cognate with the Vedic ''Asuras'', opponents of the ''devas'', and Indra, one of the chief Vedic gods, appears in Zoroastrianism as a demon (the spirit of apostasy). These malevolent beings, however, should not be thought of as independent, powerful beings, but merely as the misuse of our inherent divine force. In other words, Zoroastrianism is unequivocal in its claim that human beings are essentially divine and, therefore, have free will. |
| − | . Ancient Zoroastrianism named the Creator God, emanated from Zeruan Akerna (“Boundless Time”), Mazda (i.e., Omniscient, All-Wise). To this Zarathustra | + | |
| − | See also ZOROASTRIANISM. | + | ''See'' also ZOROASTRIANISM. |
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R.W.B. | R.W.B. | ||
Revision as of 01:08, 12 May 2011
(Zend). Ancient Zoroastrianism named the Creator God, emanated from Zeruan Akerna (“Boundless Time”), Mazda (i.e., Omniscient, All-Wise). To this Zarathustra Spitāma (also known as Zoroaster; c. 660-583 BCE) added the title Ahura (“Governor”). In other words, Ahura Mazda is the wise and beneficent creator and sustainer of the universe. This title is sometimes given in reverse, i.e., Mazda Ahura, and is known as Ormazd or Ormuzd in Persian. In the Hormazd Tasht, his name, among twenty other titles, is merely Ahu (“I am”). From Ahura Mazda a series of dualities emanated, the first being Spenta Mainyu (expansive or good thought) and Angra Mainyu (constrictive or bad thought). It is interesting to note that the beneficent beings in Zoroastrianism have a parallel with malevolent beings in Vedic Sanskrit. For example, Ahura is cognate with the Vedic Asuras, opponents of the devas, and Indra, one of the chief Vedic gods, appears in Zoroastrianism as a demon (the spirit of apostasy). These malevolent beings, however, should not be thought of as independent, powerful beings, but merely as the misuse of our inherent divine force. In other words, Zoroastrianism is unequivocal in its claim that human beings are essentially divine and, therefore, have free will.
See also ZOROASTRIANISM.
R.W.B.
